By that point, among the hundreds of thousands gathered in Alubarna, no one still thought about competing for Vivi with the same confidence they had at the beginning.
After all, it was inevitable.
Sooner or later, women like her always ended up in the arms of the most powerful men—and in everyone's minds, that place already had a name.
Tiberion Hanma.
There was no doubt about it. His mere presence had changed the air of the tournament. But even so, there were still those who clung to a final hope. A figure who, for the people of the kingdom, represented more than strength.
He represented safety.
He represented absolute power in the desert.
He represented a Hero.
Crocodile.
"If Sir Crocodile enters the tournament… then it still hasn't been decided who will take Princess Vivi…"
To the citizens of Arabasta, Crocodile was their savior.
…
In a room inside the Alubarna palace, far from the noise and clamor of the tournament, an uncomfortable silence reigned.
There, at the head of a long table, Crocodile sat sunken in his chair, elbows resting on the armrests, his gaze lost on some invisible point in front of him.
His face, usually calm and cold, had lost its color.
Sweat was beginning to slide down his forehead and neck—cold, sticky—not because of the desert heat,
But because of fear.
The news had just hit him: Daz Bones had informed him that Tiberion Hanma was not only in Arabasta… but was already in the very capital, Alubarna.
"...."
Robin watched him in silence from her position, standing just a few steps behind him and slightly to the right. She hadn't moved a single inch since Daz had delivered the news, and her eyes hadn't blinked once—they were fixed on Crocodile, trying to decipher something she had never seen before.
What she was witnessing didn't match the image she had of him.
It was unsettling…
The man she had known as a figure of total control, confident in every word, cruel yet composed—was now trembling.
Literally trembling.
As if he had been dragged into a terrifying memory.
And all because of a name… Tiberion Hanma.
Who would have thought that a Shichibukai like Crocodile could ever be seen in such a state?
She didn't know what history they shared, nor what kind of invisible wound he had left in the past. But seeing him like that made something far more important than any memory painfully clear.
That man had to be monstrously strong.
Tiberion Hanma… a criminal with a bounty of five billion berries.
A number not placed on a whim. If Crocodile—who saw himself as a god in this land—reacted that way, then that man wasn't just strong… he was in an entirely different league.
And that's why she began to think differently.
From what she remembered about him, he hadn't earned such a massive bounty just for his strength… but also because he had killed a Tenryuubito.
A Celestial Dragon.
A slight shiver ran down her spine—but not from fear… from rage, and a flicker of satisfaction.
Because she knew them. How could she forget, when she had suffered because of them?
Even if the official reports blamed the Marines for the destruction of Ohara, she knew the real culprits weren't the Navy.
It was those who floated in bubbles, wore tunics, and looked down on the world as if they didn't belong to it.
And Tiberion Hanma… not only had he challenged them, but, as far as she remembered, he had brutally torn one of them apart.
What kind of man could do something like that and still walk freely under the sun?
The question hit her without warning—and with it, something else.
It wasn't a clear thought at first, more like a feeling. A crack opening slowly inside her, letting in a new kind of light.
…What would happen if she freed herself from Crocodile's control?
She had spent years surviving under borrowed shadows.
Always under someone else's protection, always calculating her next move, hoping the next shelter wouldn't become another cage.
But seeing Crocodile so vulnerable made her wonder if someone had finally appeared—someone truly capable of protecting her.
The mere fact that even a Shichibukai like Crocodile reacted like that just by hearing his name… was strangely alluring.
And in fact, something inside her had begun to wait for him.
She still didn't know if Tiberion Hanma was truly the monster the newspapers claimed. But right now… the simple possibility of getting close to him lit a spark she couldn't put out.
"Boss, what's wrong…?"
Daz's voice echoed from the entrance after a brief delay. He was still standing by the door, hand resting on the handle, but his gaze remained fixed on Crocodile in confusion.
He had noticed the change too.
The man sitting in that chair no longer looked like the one who, just days ago, had brought King Cobra to his knees.
"..."
Crocodile blinked as if waking from a nightmare. But the tension in his face hadn't disappeared. He lifted his head and answered in a voice that sounded hollow.
"No… it's nothing…"
But his gaze remained vacant, fixed on nothing.
And as if a thought had bitten him from the inside, he turned his head toward Daz and murmured,
"No… Daz. Let Fire Fist Ace handle Tiberion."
In his mind, the image of that smile still gleamed with chilling clarity.
"..."
Daz watched him silently for a few more seconds, unmoving. Something didn't add up.
Crocodile couldn't even string two sentences together without breaking down now.
Was it possible that this Tiberion Hanma had done something to him?
Daz didn't know the story behind it, but he knew this wasn't just paranoia. His boss wasn't the kind of man to break easily.
And now he was watching him crack right in front of his eyes.
Without saying another word, he nodded and walked out.
Thud
The soft sound of the door closing wasn't enough to disperse the tension that still hung heavy in the room.
Crocodile now had his eyes fixed on the table, unmoving, but his breathing was beginning to quicken, as if struggling to contain something rising uncontrollably from within.
For a few moments, he stayed like that, clenching his teeth in silence. Then, as if making an inevitable decision, he slowly straightened, swallowing hard.
"...Nico Robin," he murmured without looking at her, "Come with me."
His tone sounded firmer than before, but it still lacked his usual confidence.
"To be safe, we're going to make Cobra take us to read the Poneglyph that contains the secret of Pluton. Right now."
"..."
Robin listened without moving.
Crocodile's request didn't surprise her.
There was urgency in his voice—he clearly hadn't recovered his composure. He was simply forcing himself to act, which made him even more dangerous.
Her eyes studied him for a moment longer.
Inside, she felt that things were shifting far too quickly.
This was no longer just about convenience. The possibility that Crocodile might make a reckless mistake—or even drag them all down with him in a desperate attempt to stay ahead of disaster—was no longer a hypothetical risk.
It was a real possibility.
And that's why, as she took a few steps forward to follow him, her mind was already preparing for the inevitable.
She had to be ready to break away from him, and if she wanted to stay alive, she needed to keep a cool head and act with precision.
Because if her assumption was correct, Crocodile had probably gravely offended Tiberion Hanma in the past, and now that man had come to settle the score.
"...Understood," she replied, showing nothing more.
She didn't ask any questions.
It wasn't the time to appear curious. Any slightest gesture out of place could trigger the alarms of a man who, in his current state, was no longer entirely rational.
The best course was to stay silent, observe, and wait.
…
It didn't take long before Crocodile took action. Overwhelmed by his condition, he immediately ordered that King Cobra be brought to him.
The king was dragged in roughly, still not fully understanding what was happening, and brought directly before him.
Once there, without giving room for words, Crocodile demanded that he lead them to the location of the Poneglyph that contained the secret of Pluton.
Cobra, confused by the sense of urgency that hung in the air, tried to dissuade him.
But that was a grave mistake.
Before he could even finish voicing an excuse, Crocodile completely lost control, and with a swift movement of his hook, he sliced the king's arm clean off.
The king's agonizing scream never left the room, and his body dropped to its knees, stunned by the pain and confusion.
He couldn't understand why Crocodile was acting so out of control.
This level of violence—so sudden and extreme—was disproportionate.
But there was no choice anymore.
Face drenched in sweat, he finally gave in. Guided more by survival instinct than by will, he led Crocodile and Nico Robin toward the western wing of the palace.
After passing through several areas, they finally reached the Tomb of the Kings. There, Cobra activated a hidden passageway, which opened with a subtle shift of stone, revealing a worn staircase descending deep underground.
The path was shrouded in darkness.
They descended hundreds of meters down that narrow structure, where the air was thick with dust and hard to breathe.
With every step, the tension in Cobra didn't ease—it only became more visible.
And finally, after a long downward walk, they arrived at an underground chamber beneath the heart of Alubarna.
A chamber lined with several large columns, a sarcophagus, and two cat statues… but none of that mattered.
At the far end stood a set of doors, adorned with inscriptions barely visible under the torchlight that lit up upon their entry.
After opening them with one final effort, they entered a silent room, untouched for ages.
There, imposing and immovable, rested what Crocodile had come for.
A Poneglyph… blue.
The stone stood at the center of the room, covered in carved symbols. Robin stepped forward without hesitation, her heart beating faster, though her face wore a mask of calm.
Inside, she was thrilled.
These symbols, though a mystery to the world, were readable to her.
She stopped in front of the Poneglyph, visually caressed each line, stretched out her hand, and began to read silently.
But she didn't show anything—she knew perfectly well that any poorly concealed emotion could arouse suspicion.
Even so, deep down, she already knew she wouldn't reveal anything she had read. Her instinct screamed it at her—if she spoke the truth, it would be the same as signing her death sentence.
And she didn't plan on dying for him.
Instead, she began weighing her options. If she managed to escape, then perhaps this information could serve as a key to negotiate a safer future.
Maybe, if she crossed paths with Tiberion Hanma, this knowledge could even buy his protection.
Behind her, Crocodile remained motionless, though tense like a cornered beast.
In his mind, the plan was already clear.
Once he had the secret of Pluton, he would eliminate Nico Robin. He needed her, yes, but he trusted no one—and now, more than ever, he felt the need to reaffirm his control.
This was his way of feeling like a man again.
But he was no longer thinking clearly. Tiberion's arrival in the capital had completely destabilized him.
And although he knew Tiberion probably hadn't come directly for Vivi, he was convinced that his presence in Alubarna meant something.
Because as long as that monster remained in the same city, Vivi was no longer an option.
Everything was slipping through his fingers—and he knew it.
…
At that very moment, in the vicinity of the royal palace, a figure moved between flashes of fire. Ace had managed to infiltrate without being detected.
His intuition rarely failed him, and this time was no exception.
Something in Arabasta was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
And then, just as he was approaching a wider hallway, a voice suddenly stopped him in his tracks.
"Fire Fist Ace?"
"Instead of joining the competition, you decided to come to the palace?"
Ace froze and turned his head.
In front of him, walking calmly, appeared Daz—with his long arms relaxed and a neutral expression that revealed nothing.
Ace narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?" he asked bluntly. "Are you with the government? Or just another pirate?"
Daz didn't answer right away. He stepped a bit closer, stopping at a safe distance, eyes fixed on him.
"...You've probably heard of Baroque Works," he murmured, not bothering to hide his identity.
Ace didn't respond. But his eyes sharpened.
"I didn't come to fight," Daz continued. "I only came to give you information."
Ace didn't let his guard down. Everything about this man's demeanor reeked of distrust, but something in his tone made him want to listen.
"Recently," Daz began slowly, "several captains and commanders from your crew were killed by Tiberion Hanma. Others were captured… and are now locked up in Impel Down."
!
For a moment, Ace didn't know how to react. His breath caught for an instant, trying to process what he had just heard.
Then, his eyes turned cold. The air around him grew hotter, and the tension intensified.
"What the hell are you saying…?" he growled, jaw clenched, barely restraining himself from killing the man in front of him.
Daz gave a slight shrug, emotionless.
"Tiberion Hanma is in the city."
And without waiting for a response, he turned around and began to walk away slowly.
The faint smile that formed on his face was the last thing Ace saw before he disappeared down the corridor.
"..."
Ace stood still.
His body didn't respond right away, but his fists slowly clenched, tightening so hard they broke the skin.
The temperature around him began to rise, until small flames burst from his arms. He didn't say a single word, but inside him, a storm had been unleashed.
He knew the Baroque Works organization.
He knew perfectly well that it wasn't just some headless gang of criminals. It was a secret, well-structured group, with an intelligence network that rivaled even those in the New World. They weren't the type to speak without purpose—and that alone was enough for him to understand that what he had heard wasn't just a baseless rumor.
Did he know he was being used? Yes.
But he couldn't ignore it. Not after hearing that many of his brothers had been killed or locked up in Impel Down by a single man: Tiberion Hanma.
And if all of that turned out to be true, then Ace knew there was no stopping now.
He wasn't going to stand aside—if he ended up face to face with that man, a battle would be inevitable. There would be no room for words, only a fight to the death.
And worst of all… he wasn't even sure he could win.
Even though he didn't know him well, Tiberion Hanma wasn't an ordinary enemy. His bounty of five billion berries made that clear.
It was a bounty on par with his father's.
If the World Government had placed him on that level, then his existence was a major threat—a force so overwhelming that his mere presence could disrupt the balance.
And still, that thought didn't stop him.
It wasn't the first time rage pushed him forward, and it wasn't the first time someone had harmed his family. He had already crossed the Grand Line to chase Teach for what he did to Satch—and that wound still hadn't healed.
And now, with more brothers' names falling to the hands of a stranger, something inside him reawakened—like a dormant volcano.
It didn't matter how strong Tiberion Hanma was.
It didn't matter if he was a monster—Ace wasn't going to back down.
And with that thought, he turned around and left the palace.
…
At that exact moment, while the noise of the tournament spread throughout the capital, Tiberion stood in front of the crowd—completely exposed to the masses.
His imposing presence made him stand out from everyone, hands in his pockets, shoulders relaxed, eyes fixed on the matches playing out on the platforms.
Around him, no one dared get too close, and those who did pretended not to notice him.
He observed everything with absolute calm—but also with clear boredom. He had already watched several fight: Luffy, Zoro, Sanji… all of whom he knew had tremendous potential, but were still far too green to catch his real interest.
They weren't at the level to entertain him yet.
That's why he hadn't stepped in. He hadn't come to join the spectacle either.
He came out of curiosity—he wanted to know what all of this was about.
Though deep down, that wasn't his true reason. He had also come to find Vivi… to leave her a gift in her Uterus—and then, simply, walk away.
________
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